"It truly seems inappropriate to leave now. I believe they genuinely respect Brother Han, and if we stay, Lord Hú will surely not back out." Zǐ Líng hesitated slightly before slowly nodding. Having regained her freedom, the alertness and intelligence once again returned to her, transforming her back into the independent "Purple Spirit Maiden" who had once dared to journey alone across the realms. At the sight of Han's graceful smile, she smiled in return and immediately walked toward the great hall. Gazing at Han's retreating figure, her bright eyes seemed to drift into distant thoughts, a gentle blush rising on her rose-tinted cheeks. Yet, with a light bite of her lips, she swiftly shifted her feet and followed. Three days later, the magisterial hall hosted the formal ceremony for Lord Hú's marriage to two other stunning female disciples, now serving as his consorts. The number of magistrates and independent practitioners attending the celebration increased, reaching about twenty or thirty. Among them, even the lowest-ranked had attained mid-stage cultivation, and several additional senior cultivators were also added. This gave Han Li a fresh appreciation of the strength of the Daoist realm in the Great Jin dynasty—something entirely unmatched by Tiannan. The cultivators coming to congratulate him were naturally astonished when they learned that three Shenshu cultivators were peers of Han Li. Yet, upon hearing from the earlier arrivals that Han Li had nearly brought Yin Luo Sect to such a state of decline, that he had personally secured a concubine from Hu Lao Mo, and that he had even fought a direct battle against Hu Lao Mo, they all grew deeply awed. From that point on, every one of them treated Han Li with utmost courtesy, never daring to show any slightness. Over the past few days, Hu Lao Mo had maintained a composed demeanor in Han Li’s presence, as if the marriage alliance with Zi Ling had never occurred. Han Li felt a sense of relief, yet he did not relax his vigilance, remaining exceptionally cautious throughout the three days. Zi Ling herself also hesitated to leave Han Li’s side, and with such a beautiful companion always at his side, she found it no burden at all. But as soon as the celebration ended, Han Li immediately bid farewell to Zhi Li and the others, taking with him Zi Ling and leaving the magical palace, descending the mountain of Muto, and vanishing completely. ... Three months later, on a scenic yet unnamed small mountain, a young man dressed in green robes stood quietly upon a massive stone, gazing out toward the distance. This ordinary-looking youth was none other than Han Li, who had been away from the mountain of Muto for several months. At this moment, his eyes were level, yet he rarely showed such subtle complexity and hesitation. Suddenly, he raised both hands and silently gazed at them for a while. Just one day prior, these hands had been fervently dancing over Zhi Ling's jade-like skin, radiating a warm, smooth, and velvety sensation—indeed, nothing could have been more exquisite. Now, however, the beloved had departed, and here remained only he alone. Indeed, after Han Li and Zhi Ling had left the influence of the Tianmo Sect, they had slowed their flight, sharing stories and exchanging experiences about their lives since their parting in the Mago Valley. Neither party was fully engaged, nor did either find themselves genuinely amused. From the beginning, there had always been a subtle affection between them, and after months of close, intimate interactions, they had inevitably found themselves swept into a brief, passionate bloom of romance. Yet afterward, Zilin clearly stated that since Han Li already had a partner for mutual cultivation, he could not formally marry her, and she herself had no intention of becoming a concubine. She would never again harbor feelings for any other man, nor would she marry anyone else. Instead, she resolved to devote herself entirely to her cultivation, hoping to achieve the great path of enlightenment. After calmly expressing these thoughts, Zilin simply drifted away with a serene composure. Though Han Li had the strength to hold her firmly in place, he had clearly perceived her unwavering determination and could only watch silently as she departed. Standing now atop the small hill, he recalled the months of their shared companionship, feeling an indescribable sense of loss, and a quiet, lingering sorrow. He was quite aware that this was a sign of an unsettled mind, yet he did not cast any spells or take any action—merely silently savoring the various sensations. After an indeterminate length of time, the haze in his eyes gradually faded, and he once again regained his clarity and calm. "This must be it—meant to meet, yet never destined to be together!" murmured Han Li. Then, a flash of jade-green light rippled around him, and suddenly he surged forward like a streak of brilliant lightning, vanishing into the sky. A short while later, the streak of light disappeared without a trace at the horizon. And these volcanoes—some blaze with an intense, vibrant red, pulsing with astonishing flames; others are lifeless, darkened to a deep black; while others roar continuously, surging with hot, steaming lava. A thick layer of dark-red fire clouds blankets the sky above this land, and across the ground near each volcano, blackened soil accumulates in thick layers of volcanic ash. The lower atmosphere is saturated with a sharp, sulfurous scent, scorching hot—far hotter than outside. Yet even in this place utterly inhospitable to ordinary mortals, some cultivators frequently appear on their flying vehicles, occasionally alighting to gather items from the ground, or simply vanishing into the heart of a volcano. Those who dare enter the volcanoes are invariably high-level cultivators with substantial修为. Though the Fire Hell is indeed a perilous realm, utterly unsuitable for mortal life, it is also a prime location for discovering various fire-element materials. One of the truly significant "Seven Sacred Sanctuaries" does not refer to the vast expanse on the ground, but specifically to a large mountain region at the very heart of the Infernal Realm. This entire region is enveloped beneath a thick, crimson mist that stretches for countless miles, its extent unknown. It is this crimson mist that constitutes the true sanctuary—few cultivators who enter survive to emerge alive. Consequently, in the vicinity of this misty sea, one typically sees no cultivators at all. Yet on this day, at the edge of the fire mist in a certain direction, a flash of luminous light appeared at the horizon, and a streak of jade-colored light surged forth, arriving within a matter of moments at a distance of over a hundred zhang from the edge of the mist. As the light faded, a young male cultivator stepped into view. It was Han Li, who, after recovering his inner state and journeying for several months, had finally reached this place. As soon as he materialized, he surveyed the surroundings before his gaze settled upon the crimson mist stretching just a short distance ahead. This red mist was vastly different from the vapor that Han Li had seen before. Such an extensive sea of mist was utterly lifeless, with not a single sound emanating from it and no ripple or movement at all. Han Li stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, observing quietly. Then, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he launched forth once more, his azure glow plunging straight into the misty sea. Han Li murmured incantations, lightly pointing with one hand at these columns of fire. The fire columns spun around once, then shot forth, pausing and hovering motionless at a distance. A flash of red light revealed that the crimson dragons on the columns opened their mouths, releasing waves of bright red light. In moments, a layer of fiery shield enveloped Han Li. Strange as it seemed, when the red mist came into contact with this fire-based shield, the initial bursts of explosion ceased abruptly—each one smoothly gliding past the shield without any disruption. Han Li's eyes flashed with satisfaction. With a surge of his inner light, his speed instantly increased severalfold. Amid the mist, his extraordinary awareness was severely limited, able to perceive only a small surrounding area. Had he not yet advanced to the level of a great cultivator, he would have been even more constrained. Clearly, arriving after attaining the Yuan Ying stage was a wise decision. Han Li's purpose in coming here was to gather the solar essence fire needed to prepare the Yang-restoring water. Back then, when he extracted the soul of the Yuan婴 master Han Li from the small Jigu Palace, he discovered the whereabouts of a strand of the Sun's refined fire—hidden precisely within this "Fire Hell" sanctuary. However, the location of this fire proved exceptionally perilous, so Han Li had not immediately set out to seek it. Now, having reached a mature stage in his Yuan婴 phase and feeling confident in his ability to succeed, he had finally returned here. After all, the miraculous effect of the Huayang Water in prolonging life was of paramount importance. During his time in the magical palace, to save Zilin, he had offered several drops of his cold marrow to the old demon mage Hulao; the remaining amount was sufficient to prepare five or six batches. Yet this fire, elusive and intangible, remained deeply embedded within the Fire Hell, making it extremely difficult to capture. Otherwise, the Yuan婴 master Han Li, as a senior cultivator, would have surely claimed it by now. Han Li himself believed he already possessed the True Yin Fire and thus considered the opportunity to capture this fire well within reach. Otherwise, he would not have come here so boldly. Yet this misty sea is also one of the imperial sanctuaries of the Great Jin Dynasty—natural dangers beyond merely the lightning and fire forces formed by the fire spirit earth demons. Indeed, within the red mist, numerous fire-type mythical beasts dwell, some of which are reportedly high-ranking, sixth- or seventh-level fierce beasts. Should a group of such high-level beasts encircle a cultivator, even a typical Yuan-En Ci master might perish. Moreover, the most perilous aspect of this red mist sea may not even be these beasts… As Han Li pondered, he suddenly sensed something. His eyes flashed with cold light, and with a single hand raised, he flicked his finger toward one side. A flash of golden light followed, and a sword-like qi wave swiftly vanished into the red mist. (First update!